Hey everyone! I'm looking for some advice on upgrading my mom's desktop to make it Windows 11 compatible. She's got a prebuilt system with an Asus Prime B450M-A motherboard, an AMD 2400G processor, and 8GB of RAM. I want to keep it cost-effective but also sensible since I'll be moving out soon and I want something reliable for her that will last a few years without too much maintenance. She's been using Windows forever, so I want to stick with it rather than switching her to Linux. I've noticed that the motherboard supports Windows 11 and newer AM4 processors.
Currently, I have an AMD 3900X, an Asus Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard, and 32GB of RAM that I was thinking of letting her use, but I'd need to get her a GPU. I don't want to spend a lot for something that she'll just use for basic office tasks.
I'm considering either a Ryzen 3200G for about $60 or a Ryzen 5600G for about $120. They should both be easy to swap in. What do you all think? Any other suggestions?
4 Answers
Just make sure you can update the BIOS first. That should be straightforward if your motherboard supports it!
I think sticking with Windows is a good call. Your mom likely won't want to learn Linux, and it seems like it would just complicate things. As for the CPUs, definitely check if you need to update the BIOS before swapping. I'd lean towards the Ryzen 5600G since it has better performance. The 3200G would actually be a downgrade since it offers fewer threads than the 2400G. Spending a little more on the 5600G could give her some extra longevity.
I didn't even catch the thread difference! I just found a 3400G for nearly the same price as the 3200G. Is there any reason to choose the 5600G over the 3400G long-term? Also, should I be concerned about her 8GB of RAM? Seems a little low.
You could get a basic GPU for casual tasks like office work and streaming. It doesn't have to be expensive. But honestly, if you can sell your 3900X combo for about $150, that might cover a decent GPU and would still leave you with some cash. But remember, if she’s just doing basic tasks, too much GPU power isn’t necessary!
True, but any cheap GPU would end up costing me around $50, and I’d still be left with a 2600G that wouldn’t fetch much value. She really doesn’t need graphics power just for office work.
You know, my grandpa switched from Windows 7 to Linux (Zorin OS) last year and he didn’t have major problems. But, he really only uses it for basic stuff like browsing and solitaire. If your mom’s usage is similar, she might adapt to Linux without too much hassle.
Yep, I can definitely update the BIOS!